MedFlight pilot on administrative leave

A MedFlight pilot is on administrative leave after officials saw video of a traffic accident that showed him standing outside the helicopter.

EMS administrators said they were alarmed when the saw the footage.

Mark Holmes has been working for Collier EMS for 13 years.

He was put on administrative leave Friday - against recommendations of the deputy county attorney - after the chief pilot saw video of him standing outside of the helicopter on scene of an accident.

NBC2 shot the video on July 14 after a woman was hit by a car while she was trying to cross US-41.

In the background, a person who officials think is Pilot Mark Holmes, is standing outside the running MedFlight helicopter.

That is something EMS officials say is unorthodox, possibly unsafe and was enough to put him on paid administrative leave.

As for the woman who was hit, 69-year-old Sharon Ray later died.

Holmes' attorney, Sam Gold sent us the following statement:

"We continue to believe Mr. Holmes acted in a matter to save lives and property. He got out of the helicopter to guide an ambulance that would have potentially collided with a moving rooter and prevented potential catastrophe. Mr. Holmes could have been killed as well as the ambulance driver; he identified a potential hazard and acted appropriately."

Collier County officials won't comment on an ongoing investigation, which is still being looked into by EMS and HR officials.